I don't know if it's been posted yet but there is a smartphone app that lets you track representatives, bills, votes, etc from your smart phone. It also allows you mark specific bills and "follow" their progress through congress. The app on my phone is just called "Congress". I am following the current bills listed at the top of this thread.

Another nice feature is that it gives contact information for all representatives, their district map, their voting record and various media, videos, news articles, etc that the rep has been featured in. Very nice app for staying up on what's going on in the den of thieves we call Washington.

Here's the link on google play but I just did a search on my phone in the playstore and found it. Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sunlightlabs.android.congress

S.33 : A bill to prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and for other purposes. (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=687124)
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ]

S.34 : A bill to increase public safety by permitting the Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of firearms and explosives licenses to known or suspected dangerous terrorists. (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=687132)
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ]

S.82 : A bill to provide that any executive action infringing on the Second Amendment has no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes. (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=687141)
Sponsor: Sen Paul, Rand [KY]

H.R.339 : To require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to make video recordings of the examination and testing of firearms and ammunition, and for other purposes. (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=687153) Sponsor: Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11]

H.R.410 : To provide that any executive action infringing on the Second Amendment has no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes. (http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=687157)
Sponsor: Rep Stockman, Steve [TX-36]

Thank you for contacting me with your support for H.R. 35, the Safe Schools Act of 2013. It's good to hear from you.

Being an avid outdoorsman and gun owner myself, I share your support for the 2nd Amendment and firmly oppose unnecessary restrictions on law abiding gun owners. As you know, the Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1990 prohibits the possession of a firearm in a school zone, which is defined as the campus of a public or private school, or within 1,000 feet of the campus grounds.

Under current law, concealed weapons permits are granted at the state level and states are able to grant reciprocity for these permits. However, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has enforced federal law within these safe zones. As a result, Representative Steve Stockman (R-TX) has introduced the Safe Schools Act, which would repeal provisions of the Gun-Free School Zone Act that prohibits the possession of firearms in school zones.

Currently, H.R. 35 awaits consideration by the House Committee on the Judiciary. Rest assured that as Congress continues to discuss this important matter, I remain committed to supporting policies that ensure the protection of the 2nd Amendment.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to let me know.
Sincerely,
Duncan Hunter
Member of Congress

Librarian

01-29-2013, 3:10 PM

Here's some good info from an experienced DC denizen.

Reposted with permission from The High Road - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=698897

This is a Public Service Announcement, I hope it will be of some use as people contact their legislators.

I worked in DC for nearly 20 years, 11 of which were spent working amongst the "movers and shakers". I have also been very politically active for nearly my entire adult life, frequently having close personal contact with my various representatives, their staffers, and other members of government. This has given me some real insight as to the actual "nuts and bolts" operation of our governmental system and how to get things done.

So most of the time it works like this;

1) Your correspondence is read by one of the staffers who goes just far enough to determine what legislation or issue it is referencing so they can assign it a category.

2) Once assigned such a category it is then usually tallied as a "FOR" or "AGAINST". At this point they don't usually get into the details of the letter and the staffer, who is responsible for thousands of pieces of mail, will probably not read any further at this time.

3) At some point down the road, usually closer to the actual discussion of the issue or legislation, the pieces of "FOR" and "AGAINST" correspondence may be read for details and information. This is also usually done by staffers who then write a summary of the talking points for the legislators to read.

Once you understand how this system works it becomes clear that you can write more effective correspondence by using the following guidelines;

1) ONE issue for ONE letter. If you have multiple legislation or issues then you have to write multiple correspondence, sorry but that is how it works.

3) Address the Legislator appropriately, usually "The Honorable <full name>"

4) START with a clear indication of the Issue in question and say whether you SUPPORT or OPPOSE it. This is especially important for email where the header should clearly state "I SUPPORT HR10XX" or "I OPPOSE the widget restriction bill".

5) Write a BRIEF and TO THE POINT summary of why you have your stance regarding the legislation or issue in question. Generally you should not exceed two paragraphs. If you have evidence supporting your position, reference it.

6) Close by requesting the action you want taken: a vote for or against a bill, or change in general policy.

7) Keep the pressure on...always. Set a calendar reminder or whatever you need to do so that you KEEP SENDING MAIL, this can dramatically increase the chances that your correspondence will be one of those selected for detailed reading.

And finally;

I have seen a lot of dismissal of "new" communication such as email and an ongoing perception that a physical, written, letter somehow carries more weight. I will probably offend a number of traditionalists but the simple truth is that the vast majority of legislative offices prefer email. It is easier to handle, store, retrieve, sort, and read. This trend is getting stronger as electronic systems become increasingly capable of "reading" the emails and creating summary reports.

The WORST thing you can do is send a hand-written letter! If you must send physical mail, type it or do a computer print-out.

Good Luck!

ZeSpectre

===============

Don't forget FAX'd letters and polite phone calls!

Contact info for the Senate: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Contact info for the House: http://www.house.gov/representatives/ and http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

edwardsb

01-30-2013, 9:54 AM

Librarian,

Here are a few bills not listed on this thred.

HR 437, assult weapons ban *submitted yesterday*
S.33, S.34, and S.35

There are a few military out of state residence (like me) that have Senators and Congressmen that are on the fence on these issues. The more info you give us helps us contact them with relevant info.

S 33, 34 and 35 have threads - just cleaned up the topic so the posts with links are more easily seen; I'll get the other two shortly.

As a practice, let's keep this thread low-volume - just posts with the links to the Calguns bill threads, and 'maintenance' posts, like this one - NEW BILL! AUGH!

// Librarian

Librarian

01-30-2013, 2:59 PM

I think SB 179 a gun trafficking bill was just announced too.

Don't find that one either in CA (which uses "SB") or Federal which uses "S.").

You can find all the current federal firearms/ammo/2A related bills & resolutions here:

http://firearmspolicy.org/federal

tobey_maguire

03-17-2013, 10:54 PM

I don't know if it's been posted yet but there is a smartphone app that lets you track representatives, bills, votes, etc from your smart phone. It also allows you mark specific bills and "follow" their progress through congress. The app on my phone is just called "Congress". I am following the current bills listed at the top of this thread.

Another nice feature is that it gives contact information for all representatives, their district map, their voting record and various media, videos, news articles, etc that the rep has been featured in. Very nice app for staying up on what's going on in the den of thieves we call Washington.

This thread popping back up about gave me have a heart attack when I saw the list in the first post till I realized it was last year. And that borderlines on the 8th amendment for cruel and unusual punishment!

lolkopter

02-11-2014, 9:26 AM

since there was no sandy hook recently, I doubt it will be as long....

Librarian

02-11-2014, 11:43 AM

Librarian, will there be a new 2014 federal bills sticky?

This thread popping back up about gave me have a heart attack when I saw the list in the first post till I realized it was last year. And that borderlines on the 8th amendment for cruel and unusual punishment!

No.

This is the 113th Congress list, all of 2013 and 2014 - things submitted to the Feds can be brought back at any time. Unlike California, there is only one important date, the beginning of the new Congress in January 2015.